Benji: Off the Leash!

2004 Action/Adventure

Directed by Joe Camp, Benji: Off the Leash! follows the plight of three underdogs: Benji, who is literally a dog; the funny but none-too-bright Sheldon; and Colby, a 14-year-old facing some real problems. The unlikely trio is brought together by the nefarious efforts of an ill-intentioned puppy breeder who wants to use Benji's mother in an irresponsible backyard puppy mill. The film serves as a prequel of sorts to the Benji franchise, and features Chris Kendrick, Nick Whitaker, Duane Stephens, Randall Newsome, and, of course, Benji the Dog.

Director: Joe Camp

Starring: Nick Whitaker, Chris Kendrick, Nate Bynum, Randall Newsome, Duane Stephens

 28 Reviews  1 Awards

Reviews

  • Not one of the great dog movies, but it's a good one, abandoning wall-to-wall cuteness for a drama about a homeless puppy.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    19 January 2013

  • After a summer of computer-generated blockbusters, the amiably low-tech Benji: Off the Leash! seems like a breath of fresh air.

    Dave Kehr - The New York Times

    19 January 2013

  • Falls flat, enlivened only by the performances of its two charismatic lead dogs. The story is heavy-handed, and the human performances are, at their worst, caricatured.

    Claudia Puig - USA Today

    19 January 2013

  • The overall unevenness of tone is the movie's biggest flaw, but the slo-mo scenes of doggie derring-do are quite funny.

    - The Washington Post

    19 January 2013

  • Benji is back, which is good news for youngsters and pet-loving families. Film lovers perhaps should steer clear, however, as hokey melodrama and sloppy comedy fill the gaps between neat dog tricks.

    Kirk Honeycutt - The Hollywood Reporter

    19 January 2013

Awards

  • Family Feature Film

    Genesis Awards (2005)

Lists

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